Thomas Parkin, Real-Life Norman Bates, Convicted Of Fraud In 'Psycho'-Like Case

"We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?" said Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror film, "Psycho." In regards to a recent lawsuit, those words have never been more appropriate.

A few weeks ago, Michael Daly of the Daily Beast wrote about a fascinating case involving a man who's been nicknamed the "Real-Life Norman Bates." In a tale of Hitchcockian proportions, 51-year-old Thomas Parkin had beem accused of dressing up like his dead mother in an attempt to secure her $2.2 million brownstone and to cash her Social Security checks.

(Fans of "Psycho" will remember that the film's main character had been impersonating his mother long after she had passed away. Of course, in the movie, Bates was also murdering innocent people, something Parkin was not accused of.)

The trouble began in 1997, when Irene Prusik supposedly signed over her brownstone deed to her adopted son Thomas Parkin (the house was eventually foreclosed on when he couldn't pay the mortgage). However, things really got weird in September 2003, after Irene passed away. That's when Thomas gave the funeral director an incorrect Social Security number for his mother. As Daly reports, this prevented "[Irene's] death from being logged in the federal database and allegedly [allowed Thomas] to collect her continuing Social Security benefits."

Soon after, a pending lawsuit -- one brought forth by Samir Chopra, the man who bought the foreclosed brownstone from the bank -- began to heat up. Chopra wanted Parkin banned from the brownstone. Parkin, however, took his case to the district attorney, painting him and his (now deceased) mother as victims of fraud. But the D.A. was suspicious: He continually asked to meet with Irene Prusik, only to be rebuffed by Thomas, who said she was ill.

Eventually, Thomas Parkin relented, and D.A. investigator Vincent Verlezza went to visit Irene...with a hidden camera. The video, which you can watch over on the Daily Beast, shows Parkin dressed as his mother. The tape would later be used as evidence against Thomas. (Thomas Parkin would later admit to detectives that "I held my mother when she was dying and breathed in her last breath, so I am my mother.")

Last week, Parkin was convicted on 11 counts, including larceny and falsifying records. He can now be sentenced to up to 83 years in prison. Although the NY Daily News states that Parkin was a fan of Bates, his lawyer maintains his innocence: "That could have been anyone," he said, in reference to the person in the video dressed as "Irene Prusik."

For a whole lot more regarding the case and Parkin's background, head over to the Daily Beast.

Coincidentally, a movie about the making of "Psycho" -- starring Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchock and James D'Arcy as Anthony Perkins -- is set to hit theaters in 2013.

[via The Daily Beast b/w Movies.com]

NEW STARS IN OLD ROLES

Gallery | New Movie Stars Playing Old Roles

• "Psycho"

  The famous shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic starred actress Janet Leigh as Marion Crane. In the shot-for-shot remake directed by Gus Van Sant, Anne Heche was the (un)lucky visitor to the Bates Motel. [PHOTOS: EVERETT]

• "Miracle on 34th Street"

  The 1947 version of "Miracle" was one of Natalie Wood's first roles. In it, Wood played Susan Walker. More than four decades later, Mara Wilson, of "Mrs. Doubtfire" fame, portrayed Susan. [PHOTOS: EVERETT]

• "Father of the Bride"

  Although Diane Keaton's character from the 1990 version had a different name than Joan Bennett's in 1950 (Ellie Banks and Nina Banks, respectively), the two play the same roles: mothers of the brides to be. [PHOTOS: EVERETT]

• "King Kong"

  In 2005, Peter Jackson finally got his chance to remake "King Kong." In it, Naomi Watts starred as Ann Darrow, the role first made famous by Fay Wray in the 1933 original. [PHOTOS: EVERETT]

• "21 Jump Street"

  Channing Tatum's character in the new version of "Jump Street" is named Jenko, a nod to Captain Richard Jenko, portrayed by actor Frederic Forrest in the original television series. [PHOTOS: EVERETT/SONY]

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